27 January 2023 , 15:43
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Cult jumper Hewick has received international recognition after the £800 racehorse was named champion steeplechaser in the United States.
His trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon hailed “the biggest night of my life” after an evening of celebrations at the glitzy annual Eclipse Awards held in Palm Beach, Florida.
Hewick, trained at Bagenalstown in Co Carlow, Ireland, crossed the Atlantic in October last year to win the America’s Grand National at Far Hills taking his career earnings to nearly £400,000.
An emotional Hanlon was unusually lost of words as he picked up his trophy, “I don’t know what to say,” he told the audience.
“I bought him in my own local sales for £800 and he’s gone on to win nearly half a million. Tonight is most definitely the biggest night of my life.”
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Hewick’s victory in the US capped an exceptional 2022 in which he also captured the Durham National at Sedgefield, Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and the Galway Plate. His next start will be in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.
On his return from overseas in October, Hanlon famously took him into his local pub for a celebratory pint of Guinness.
'Shark' Hanlon (second left) with Hewick who was voted US champion steeplechaser (PA)The awards recognise the champions of 2022 with the best horse in the world Flightline voted Horse of the Year. Hewick captured 113 of the 246 votes cast in his category.
Speaking from Florida on Friday morning and nursing a sore head, Hanlon said: “I can’t believe we won. It was a great honour for me that we did.
“My sister lives over the road from the hotel and I went because she was living so close and stayed with her. I didn’t think we would beat the American horses.
“He did deserve it the way he won over there. It shows the appreciation they have of the horse. We will go back again this year.”
He added: “You’ll see Hewick next in the Gold Cup. He’s been back in two weeks and I’ve been delighted with him. He has strengthened up which is how you want it.
“I’ve said all the time he would go straight to the Gold Cup and then the Grand National.”